ECOWAS Parliament Discuses Xenophobic, Clandestine Migration, Election

                       Xenophobic attacks in south Africa, plight of African migrants in the Mediterranean sea and elections in some member states topped agenda of 2015 first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament.
In his opening remark in Abuja on Monday, the Speaker of the Parliament, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, congratulated Nigerians and Togoese for their peaceful conduct during their 2015 presidential elections.

Ekweremadu also congratulated Goodluck Jonathan for his unprecedented show of statesmanship and sportsmanship that laid the foundation for the post-election peace and stability in Nigeria.


“He has set a new standard which every African leader will now be tasked to emulate to ensure that true democracy, sanctity of the ballot box and wishes of the people are upheld.

“Indeed, the successful elections in Nigeria and Togo effectively combine to announce to the world that democracy has come to stay in West Africa,’’ the speaker said.
He said that the Parliament wished to assure the winners of Togo and Nigeria’s presidential elections of its continued partnership and solidarity toward the development of their respective countries.

Ekweremadu also urged other member nations, notably Cote d’ Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Guinea whose elections were also lined up to emulate Nigeria and Togo.
On xenophobic attacks in South Africa, he said that they scorned international treaties and charters on human rights and was certainly out of sync with the realities of globalisation.
“ We must all rise up against the new face of apartheid and ensure that those involved are fished out and possibly dragged before the International Criminal Court.
The speaker also called for collaboration with the global community to halt clandestine migrations in the region.



“We must as a regional and national parliaments step up our legislative efforts to entrench good governance that provides jobs, equal opportunities, and cater for the welfare and security of our peoples,’’ he said.

He also commended Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroun for their concerted onslaughts against the Boko Haram insurgents resulting in the massive success.
Also speaking at the occasion, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Quedraogo, also called on African leaders to join efforts so as to draw measures to avoid clandestine immigrations.

“We Africans should also work hard so that our countries will be countries where people will like to live so that we stop risking our lives to go outside,’’ Quedraogo said.
The president also congratulated Liberia as World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it Ebola free on Saturday and wished Guinea and Sierra Leone the same.
Senators Yormie Johnson and George Weah were sworn in at the occasion replacing Hon. Theodore Momo Jr. and Senator Mobutu Nyenpan, all from Liberia. (NAN)